Chapter 166

               

Before long, the Pandarian King’s body vanished like a lie.

There is a saying that when one dies in The Abyss, the soul rises to the ‘true heavens’ in a wisp of smoke, but this time not even smoke remained.

Erasure.

Literally, he disappeared forever.

Naturally, even if he called upon the Reaper of Souls for a ritual, it would be useless.

‘I… didn’t ask his name.’

Facing a complete loss, Park Chan-woo’s eyes trembled faintly.

Come to think of it, the Pandarian King hadn’t asked his name either.

He hadn’t shown any curiosity.

Perhaps that had been the Pandarian King’s kindness.

A way to let him go naturally, without lingering attachment.

A will saying he didn’t need to be remembered when he was about to vanish.

‘The mountain of the trainees where the Arahan gather.’

…Wasn’t there supposedly the last surviving Pandarian there?

But then, what should he tell him?

Should he say that the nameless king of the Pandarians told him, ‘You were right’?

‘If the Sealed Demon God’s Chalice is the token of the Heavenly Demon…’

There was no physical form, yet it clearly existed inside his mind.

If he could only prove it, he might be able to hold a conversation with the Arahan and the ‘last survivor.’

‘I keep my promises.’

Park Chan-woo slowly shook his head.

There was something he needed to check before any of that.

‘The Hall of Fame.’

Upon achieving a great feat and gaining 50,000 Fame, the ‘Hall of Fame’ appeared.

‘Did the system always have something like this?’

The problem was that he had never heard this name before.

No one had ever said that anyone had been listed in the ‘Hall of Fame.’

Sometimes, in Creator Abysses, people built ‘halls’ to rank players, but an actual system-defined ranking hall appearing for the first time was unprecedented.

Park Chan-woo focused his gaze on the words ‘Hall of Fame.’

Then—

Dding!

《Opening the ‘Hall of Fame’.》

《Would you like to register your name in the Hall?》

《You may choose the name to be inscribed.》

《By entering the ‘Hall of Fame,’ you may obtain a special ‘Immortal Emblem’ depending on your ranking.》

《If your rank rises, the emblem will be replaced with a higher one. If your rank falls, it will be forcibly replaced with a lower one.》

《Those who hold an emblem may be recognized by the transcendent beings known as ‘Transcendents’ in the ‘Transcendent Abyss.’》

It was similar to the Mystery Codex, yet different.

The Mystery Codex evaluated unknown ‘Mysteries’ of The Abyss and allowed explorers to boast and observe one another.

But the ‘Hall of Fame’ seemed to offer real gains and losses depending on rank.

‘Transcendent Abyss!’

The most important part was the final line.

The place known as the Transcendent Abyss truly existed.

A land that existed since The Abyss was born—yet remained outside the control of demons.

Territory where unknown Transcendents dwelled, territory no lord dared to touch. That was the ‘Transcendent Abyss.’

‘Humanity reached it only once.’

Yet they gained nothing.

For no one was acknowledged by a Transcendent.

Humanity retreated, leaving it as nothing more than a mysterious Abyss.

Why the Transcendents existed, why anyone needed their acknowledgment—none of it was known.

But to think fame was the requirement…

《Registering name in the Hall of Fame.》

《Registered as ‘Archmage.’》

《Congratulations! To enter the Hall of Fame, one must accomplish countless feats, seize great Fame, and accumulate supreme ‘Karma.’》

《All ‘stories’ gathered into one create Fame.’ O Archmage! Your name shall be sung forevermore.》

《Confirming all accumulated ‘Fame.’》

《Fame value 1,030,400 has achieved Rank 100.》

《The former Rank 100, ‘Flame Calamity Demon King,’ has been removed from the Hall, and his emblem reclaimed.》

《You have obtained the ‘Immortal Emblem (100)’.》

《Checking upper ranks of the Hall of Fame.》

《Rank 1 – Sephiro (679,999,990)》

《Rank 2 – Lucifer (665,844,444)》

《Rank 3 – Amon (610,500,000)》

“……Sephiro.”

Was this guy an attention-seeker like Han Shin?

Sephiro’s name appeared everywhere.

He flaunted countless Mysteries in the Mystery Codex…

…and now he was solidifying his name here as well.

‘The Great Nine Lords aren’t here.’

Park Chan-woo stroked his chin.

Demon Kings and Demon Gods appeared here and there, yet the Great Nine Lords were absent.

Well, they had no reason to enter such a hall.

Absolute beings who didn’t care about acknowledgment from Transcendents.

It was impossible to imagine them submitting to anyone’s judgment.

As for the Dragon God Sephiro—everyone accepted he was an unpredictable lunatic.

He never cared about others’ eyes or opinions, doing only what he wanted. That was Sephiro.

‘Ahheta isn’t here either.’

But the absence of Ahheta, the Master of the Moon, was surprising.

He had destroyed countless worlds and races.

Such deeds seemed to have nothing to do with fame.

Park Chan-woo shifted his gaze.

‘The Immortal Emblem.’

A cloak was suddenly resting in his hand.

As the Flame Calamity Demon King was removed from the Hall, his emblem was forcibly summoned.

Judging from the number 100 engraved on it, that must be his rank.

Name: Immortal Emblem

Description: A special emblem given only to those listed in the ‘Hall of Fame.’ Its effects vary by rank, and when equipped, it activates ‘True Fame.’ Equipping it will allow the ‘Transcendents’ to acknowledge you as a being of fame.

Holding Effects:

(1) The Rank 100 emblem reduces all damage taken by 1%.

(2) The Rank 100 emblem increases the efficiency of all attack power by 10%.

(3) The Rank 100 emblem increases all equipment levels by 1.

(4) As the emblem number rises, all effects increase.

“…Huh.”

Damage reduction, attack power efficiency, and even an increase in equipment level?

“That’s outrageous.”

The effects were impressive enough to invoke awe.

If the Rank-100 emblem was this powerful, how strong were those above?

If the effects increased with rank, how much had Sephiro gained from the Rank-1 emblem? It was unimaginable.

‘All three options are absurd.’

Effects that reduced damage did exist.

For example, certain armor had the special option of reducing ‘physical damage.’

But nothing reduced ‘all damage.’

No known item or tool had such an option.

The same was true for increasing all attack power efficiency.

Increasing efficiency meant a massive boost in all related stats.

And finally—

‘An overall equipment level increase!’

This was the part that stood out the most.

Another way to overcome minus levels.

Moreover, ‘level increase’ was absolute.

It would continue even past the limit.

Meaning it forced him beyond the wall.

…The Immortal Emblem.

Absolutely insane.

He now had a reason to climb higher.

Compared to those at the top, his fame was like ‘the sun versus a firefly,’ but he would catch up somehow.

‘The Flame Calamity Demon King. That must sting.’

Losing his emblem after being kicked off the Hall—how furious must he be?

Park Chan-woo shrugged and checked one last thing.

The Gem of Wisdom.

It crystallized the moment he acquired it from the Pandarian King, turning into the ‘Radiant Sage’s Stone.’

Soon, a related window popped up.

Name: Radiant Sage’s Stone

Level: -72

Rarity: Eternal

Description: The most beautiful Gem of Wisdom inherited by the kings of the Pandarians. It has crystallized and turned into a ‘Sage’s Stone.’ Equipment level has increased by 1 due to the ‘Immortal Emblem.’

Unique Options:

(1) Intelligence increases by 2 per level gained. (+52)

(2) Lends you the eyes and wisdom of the sage.

It was treated as a tool, not equipment.

The descriptions and options were simple.

But each one was extraordinary.

‘Unlike the Mage’s Stone, it applies retroactively.’

The Pandarian King had vanished, raising his level by 2.

He had gone from Level -99 to Level -73, gaining 26 levels.

The Mage’s Stone increased mana only for levels gained after obtaining it, but the Radiant Sage’s Stone included all levels gained up to now.

And on top of that—

The scaling was twice as high.

‘Lends me the eyes and wisdom of the sage… what does that mean?’

The second unique option was unclear.

What would he see, and what wisdom would be granted?

But he learned this too as he approached Section 4.

《Section 4 is the territory of the ‘Hooligan Reaper.’》

《Silent and unseen, it steals and destroys belongings.》

《To prevent a ‘Hooligan Reaper’ from approaching, overwhelming presence is required.》

《Avoid all Reapers’ ‘pickpocketing’ and reach the end of the section to encounter an ‘Outer God.’》

《A hidden shortcut is revealed by the ‘Radiant Sage’s Stone.’》

…A strategy guide appeared.

—

“……Comrade. Did you purify Section 3 alone?”

Seeing Park Chan-woo return after handling the Pandarian King alone, Kankun couldn’t help but be shocked.

As seen in Sections 1 and 2, one had to eliminate the ‘apex entity’ assigned to a section to proceed.

Kankun and the orcs had done nothing, so Park Chan-woo must have handled it all alone.

“The next section is the last. We leave immediately.”

He did not directly confirm it, but it was confirmation all the same.

‘…Truly an incomprehensible man.’

Kankun gave up trying to understand.

Park Chan-woo had always been that kind of human.

Even in the Tower of Arrogance, hadn’t he climbed the tower in bizarre ways?

Who would’ve imagined he would alternate between Adora’s faction and his own while climbing?

This time was the same.

Park Chan-woo was someone who created paths.

Those who couldn’t create paths could never understand his methods.

‘Section 4. A monster related to thieves will appear.’

Kankun and the orcs tensed up.

They passed Section 3 without major battle, but Section 4 would be different.

It was the final section, the step just before confronting the Outer God.

Sssk!

“M-my sword!”

“Who goes there?!”

It began then.

Cries erupted from all directions as the orcs’ equipment shattered.

‘…Invisible. It’s moving while hidden.’

A monster using stealth at a masterful level.

The reason it stole and destroyed equipment was likely related to the ‘Outer God.’

Before reaching it, it intended to strip them bare.

You couldn’t meet a divine being while brandishing weapons.

‘I’ll find you.’

Kankun closed his eyes.

If he couldn’t see them, he would sense them.

But when he detected them, he was stunned.

‘Reapers…!’

Reapers!

The kind of beings who couldn’t be found or caught, practically ghosts.

They were too fast—sensing them was meaningless.

Becoming chimeras had made them even faster.

To the slow orcs, they were natural predators.

‘…We are to push through this?’

By the time they arrived, every orc’s equipment would be destroyed.

Perhaps even Kankun’s.

“Everyone stand behind me.”

In that instant, Park Chan-woo spoke and stepped forward.

Flutter!

He equipped the Immortal Emblem.

Then ‘True Fame activated, bathing his entire body in golden light.

The Reapers flinched at the presence.

‘It said overwhelming presence was needed.’

But this alone would not be enough.

Park Chan-woo intended to unleash a presence so immense that the entire Section 4 would tremble.

A presence so overwhelming that Reapers wouldn’t dare approach.

Fwooo—

He drew in a deep breath.

At the same time—

‘Roar of the Fierce God.’

《The Authority of the ‘Fierce God Baal,’ an enhanced Roar of the Fierce God, shakes all regions of the ‘Third Night’ beyond the Temple of Death!》

Kuwaaaaaaaang-!